Stay in shape with these fitness gifts for the holidays

Get started on setting new goals for the new year and stay on top of managing your health with these great fitness gifts for the holiday season.

The past few years have brought an explosion in fitness technology. Where we used to be limited to basic pedometers and then fitness trackers that were little more than glorified pedometers with a Bluetooth radio, today's fitness devices are tracking our movements in all dimensions, monitoring our vitals, and are even smart enough to dispense advice in real time. Check out some of our favorites below and feel free to get filled in on some other amazing gadgets with our extensive 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.

Microsoft Band 2

The new Microsoft Band 2 has been designed to be more comfortable and user-friendly than the original. You can track your heart rate, exercise, calorie burn, and sleep quality while still staying on top of emails, texts, and calendar alerts on its horizontal display. It's not native to just one OS, either. The Microsoft Band 2 works with Windows Phones, iOS, and Android devices. Other features include GPS mapping, UV monitor, and a barometer to help monitor your activities more accurately and reach your goals.

Fitbit Charge HR

An excellent fitness tracker that works with iOS, Android, and Windows is the Fitbit Charge HR. This high performance wristband rocks an OLED display for all your activity tracking, whether it be steps taken, overall distance, floors climbed, or sleep quality. Along with caller ID, you can sync up the Fitbit Charge HR to your computer to sync your stats and monitor your goals, food, trends, and achievements. It's a truly a universal option for kicking off a new healthy lifestyle after the new year.

Jawbone UP MOVE

A simpler way to track your steps, calories burned, and quality of sleep is Jawbone's UP MOVE wearable. Great for going head-to-head with your friends and family using the iOS and Android-compatible Jawbone UP app, you can check out your standing on team leader boards or even stay on top of what you're eating and drinking. You can use the included clip for attaching to your shirt, bag, or pocket throughout the day or opt for the Onyx Slim Strap to wear it on your wrist like a watch. For under $30 it's a great way to get healthy without breaking the bank.

Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale

This smart scale is a great way to monitor your weight and goes hand in hand with any Fitbit fitness tracker. Set up the scale on your Wi-Fi network and it will track your weight, body fat percentage, and BMI, syncing wirelessly to an online graph for you to view and stay motivated as you continue to tackle your weight goals. The Aria Smart Scale can recognize up to 8 different users and keeps each individual's results private. It's built very well with a polished glass surface that resists condensation from hot showers — perfect if you plan to keep it in your bathroom.

Jaybird X2 Sport Wireless Headphones

Still after that perfect pair of headphones that won't slip out of your ears during your workouts? The Jaybird X2 Headphones are a great place to start, providing up to 8 hours of skip-free music over a Bluetooth connection. Not only are these sweat proof, they sport memory foam ear tips that are designed to stay in place whether you're running, walking, or lifting. There are a plenty of different sized earbuds and ear pins in the package in case you're worry it's a one size fits all kind of deal.

Smart Rope

Even jump ropes have become advanced and Tangram's Smart Rope is a unique way to stay active while being able to monitor your activity, stay on top of personal goals, or even compete against your friends. Available in black, chrome, or gold the Smart Rope uses Bluetooth 4.0 to connect and provides approximately 30 days of use from a single charge. 23 LED's have been embedded into the rope to display your progress as you workout and having 2 sets of ball bearings in each handle grants amazingly smooth rotations. The Smart Gym app is where you'll keep track of everything from basic counts and awards to interval training and leaderboards. Soft handle covers are also available in a variety of colors for additional grip.